Love bombing for a tween?

Six year ago, I wrote about love bombing and this week, I read about it again in Psychologies magazine. A quick Google search showed up quite a few worrying article involving love bombing and adults; The Sun called it "a controversial tactic that often starts off with a predator showering their victim with affection" (but that is The Sun...). I'm sure for children it's still OK? Psychologies magazine obviously does. Its "inventor", Oliver James (author of They F*** You Up), calls it a way of resetting your child's emotional thermostat, with a night/weekend of time alone with them, where they dictate what is (or isn't) done. This unlimited love and control is then replicated afterwards with shorter, more frequent bombs. That mini love bombing is what I referred to when I wrote about it, when Master Humdrum was six (he's now 12).

I'd quite like to revisit this for a tweenager. I do realise that he might well say I have to play Fortnite with him all evening, but I'm sure he'd get fed up with me being so rubbish and I'd probably affect his stats too much! What would he suggest? The last time, we watched Finding Nemo apparently on the sofa. (It was obviously so memorable for me, as I'd swear I never watched the film!) We have one week left at school before our two week Easter break. I'm going to suggest a day for the two of us, at his leisure/pleasure. Watch this space!

He's back and I didn't miss him - shock!

His shoes lay strewn near the front door. ACDC riffs belt out from the amp in the front room. My head throbs. Peace reigned for five days. Five long, lazy days. Now that peace is shattered. The boy is back. But - prepare yourself for the shock - I didn't miss him! The school parents' Facebook chat page buzzed while they were away at their Year 5 residential. I started a thread asking if any other parents had received their postcard. We were asked to pack a stamped addressed card. I had but some other parents didn't, making them feel totally rejected! One mum forgot and felt awful. It was on this thread that it appeared I was the only parent who didn't miss their little bundle of joy! Other mums described tears at bedtime the night before. Tears when they were pulling away on the coach. And this was boys, actually, not girls. I jokingly said I was certainly going to win the Worst Parent Award for this half-term. One mum replied that I'd raised an independent boy ra...

Ms Humdrum reviews: The Taken escape room from Escape London

YES we found Bob! Escape rooms seem to be the new thing. You pay to be locked into a room, with your goal being to escape! But it’s a little more than that. Teamwork aids the solving of puzzles and challenges, with clues around you, be it icons or codes. There is not always just one room; often a second room is there for the finding. Based around a theme, this immersive style of game has really taken off, with even my mum completing one! I was imagining a quiz based on general or specific knowledge, but no, it’s not necessary to have any prior information. Anyone can take part. Last week, on a family day out, I “Escaped” with my mum, cousin and her daughter. The rules were explained to us before we entered and we were told that while there was a camera, there was no audio. If we required help (yes you can ask for help!), we needed to dance in front of the camera and help would come via the TV screen in the room. Our theme was “Taken” - our good friend Bob had gone missing and we we...

Would I Lie To You board family game review

Would I Lie To You? "The game of believable lies and unbelievable lies ", linked into the TV show of the same name. Purchased: December 2017 in Waterstones, for around £20 In a nutshell: These TV show-affiliated games usually show themselves up (Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Top Gear) but this game is fun and easy to play (if a little modified) as a family. You don't really need specialist knowledge to play, just the ability to lie! Every year for Christmas, I like to buy a board game to play, even though no games better either Ludo (in which my dad is the reigning cheater-champion, and argues to high heaven over the rules about doubling up or how to place your counters in "Home") or Rummikub (which we can now play with two packs of cards lest we forget the game). This year, Would I Lie To You caught my eye in Waterstones (other emporiums - emporia? - for book lovers are [locally] unavailable). It's a game, it says, for 2-8 players; however we dec...

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